THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION

This world is an arid wasteland on either side of the Mexican/U.S. border. But 50 years from now it is a separate country: the land of Opium, a vast drug- producing territory ruled by the 140-year-old El Patron and worked exclusively by human clones. Only Matt, kept alive because he is himself a clone of El Patron, can restore its humanity. Robert Ramirez's narration echoes Matt's awakening to the evil around him and deepens the suspense of his attempted escape. As he hurtles through the land of Opium, Ramirez leaps from character to character, each one stranger and strangely dearer than the last. Ramirez's voice is subtly attuned to the humanity in all of them, even the clones. Winner of the National Book Award, The House of the Scorpion is a great mix of sci-fi, adventure, and powerful human values. P.E.F. Winner of the National Book Award, 2002 (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]